A listening ear, if not the helping hand?

Ganesh and Prachit are childhood friends. Prachit recently got Covid +ve and has been asked to remain home quarantined.

The loneliness soon got hold of Prachit. Feeling very restless, he called Ganesh and started expressing his feelings.

Without letting Prachit complete his say, Ganesh started giving him “Gyan” about what Prachit should do and how he should feel. The call ended abruptly since Prachit hung up the phone.

Ganesh started feeling guilty with no clue of what might have gone wrong since he tried reaching Prachit multiple times afterwards but to no avail.

This is what might have happened:

Friends,

We all unanimously agree with the fact that the humanity is experiencing one of the most challenging times in its history.

The havoc created by the second wave of pandemic has made us helpless in so many ways.

Many of us have lost our closed ones due to this virus.

Despite of our earnest desire, we are not able to extend our helping hand to our friends (and in some extreme cases, even the close-knit family) which we usually do otherwise.

This pandemic has succeeded to quite an extent in taking the charge even of our mental peace.

Many of us are experiencing anxiety, fear, uncertainty and some of us are even experiencing severe depression.

In such a situation if someone calls you and talks to you in a worried tone, may be the person is not expecting you to address his/her dis-comfort of the mind – but just expecting you to lend a listening ear.

This reminds me of a wonderful poem I came across, which complements and completes the above message:

When I ask you to listen to me

and you start giving me advice,

you have not done what I asked.

When I ask you to listen to me

and you begin to tell me why

I shouldn’t feel that way,

you are trampling on my feelings.

Perhaps that’s why the prayer works

Because God is mute and he doesn’t yell

But He does listen

So please listen, and just hear me.

And if you want to talk, wait a minute

for your turn – and I will listen to you.

So friends, are we ready to listen?

Please do share your thoughts!